Propeller-shaft



W. GLOOR.

PROPELLER SHAFT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2. I92].

Patelited Nov. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEE1 I.

W. GLOOR.

PROPELLER SHAFT.

APPLICATION man MAR. 2. 1921. 1,396,325. Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTERS, GLOOB, 01' NEW YORK, N. Y.

PBOPELLEB-SHAI'I.

- Application filed larch 2,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. WALTHER Gnoon, citizen of Switzerland, residing at New York in the county of New York and State of ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Propeller-Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to screw propellers in which the blades are reversible relative to the longitudinal axis of the propeller shaft, so that the direction of propulsioncan be reversed without reversing the rotation of the propeller shaft.

The object of this invention is to provide a reversing or feathering mechanism which will be simple in construction, and efiective in operation.

A further object of my invention is to so construct and mount the blades as to enable them to retain their adjusted position while in operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means whereby the reversing operation of the blades will be greatly facilitated.

With the'aforenamed and other objects in view, my invention consists substantially in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which similar reference characters denote corresponding parts, F' re 1 is aside elevation of the stern part of t e boat e uipped with my new ropeller; Fig. 2 is a ace elevation of the ever mechanism for operating the blades; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end view of the propeller'hub showing the slides engaging the blades; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 4; Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the ends of the inter osed members engaging the blades; Fig. 9 1s a side elevation of a propeller blade, and Fig. 10 an elevation thereof at a right angle to that of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawin 10 denotes the main power propeller shag adapted to be driven continuously in one direction and which toward the rear is made hollow and tapering or conical as at 10', said hollow tapering portion projecting outwardly through the hull of the vesel 11. Fixed to the outer Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

1921. Serial no. 449,175.

end of said hollow part of the ropeller shaft is a hollow boss or hub 12 which according to the present embodiment is composed of three circumferential sections, a conical sec tion 13, two intermediate externally cylindrical sections 14 and 15, and a conical cap 16. The conical section 13 is formed with a central conical bore to engage the tapered hollow part 10' of the ropeller shaft, and at its rear end has a need 0 lindrical projection 13 to screw into a threaded cylindrical hollow 14 of the adjacent section 14. The projection 13 is hollow as at 13 to accommodate a nut 17 workin on the threaded portion 10 of the propel er shaft 10, and whereby the section 13 1s tightened on the latter. The other intermediate section 15 is provided with a threaded projection 15' to engage the screw threaded mouth 16' of the cap 16. The threaded engagement of the di erentvsections with one another must be contrary to the direction of rotation of the pro ll'er shaft.

0 intermediate sections 14 and 15 are provided with central sockets 14, 15' respectively, arranged in axial alinement with each other and substantially of pol nal form with as man sides as there are bfii des. In the exam le s own, the propeller comprises three lades 18 and accordingly the sockets 14 and 15' are in form of equi-lateral triangles. The two sections 14 and 15 are adapted to bear with their opposite plane surfaces on each other in a laneperpendicular to the central axis of the main ropeller shaft, and to be .joined to ether y bolts 15 or the-like as shown in igs. 4, 5, 6. In the bearing surfaces each intermediate section is formed with radially .extending cylindrical holes 19 each hole being formed with a plurality of annular ribs 19. Each propeller blade 18 is constructed so that relative tothe central longitudinal axis one of its sides is considerably wider than the other, and the wider side terminates in a comparatively sha edge 18'. Each propeller blade 18 is ormedat its inner end with a cylindrical stem 20, corres ondingly grooved as at 20' so as to proper y fit into the ribbed sockets 19 of the sections 14 and 15. The sides of each propeller blade. adjacent to the circumference of the hub sections 14, 15 are extended in the direction of against the cylindrical surfaces of the'sections 14, 15 of the hub. This construction affords the desired amount-of free rotation of the blades around the longitudinal axes of their stems 20, and prevents displacement in radial direction relative to the propeller shaft. The wider side of each blade which carries the cutting or advancing edge 18' receives a greater amount of reaction from the water than the other side, such re- ;action tending to, automatically hold the shoulders 18 and 18 steady against'the circumference of the sections 14 and 15. The main support for each blade is the stem 20 which is snugly held in the bearing and a tendency of the blades to rotate farther in their sockets 19, because of the greater amount of pressure on the widercutting side of the blades is resisted by the contact of the shoulders 18 and 18 against the sections 14and 15.

Extending through the hollow portion 10' of the main propel er shaft 10 are members arranged concentric to and adapted to revolve with said propeller shaft. Inthe resent example, these members are ma 6 in form of a sleeve 21 and a rod 22 borne in the hollow part 10' of the propeller shaft and within one another. 22 are movable in opposite direction rela- 'tive to one another and longitudinally of the propeller shaft 10. The rear ends 21', 22 of the sleeves 21 and rod 22 project into the polygonalsockets-14 and 15 and are each formed with a plurality of wing shaped members 23, 24 respectively, "each of triangular prismatic form to fit the triangular sockets 14 and 15 and bear on the sides thereof. The two sets of wings are so disposed relative to one another as to slidably engage with 'one another or interlock as shown in Fig. 4. The outer face of each wing 23 isprovided with a recess 24' extending transverselg relative to the. axis of the propeller shaft igs.7 and 8). Slid'ably fitted in each recess or groove 24 is a slide 25 provided: with a substantially cylindrical hole 26. These holes 26 constitute socketsfor the engagement of pins 27 projecting eccentrically from the inner end of the stem 20 of each propeller blade. Each blade has tvvo'eccentric parallel pins 27 adapted to engage the hole 26 of two adjacent shdes' 25 removable in the groove 24'.of the different sets of'wings 23, 24. The axes of the pins 27 are located in the general plane. of the corresponding blade 18. Now. it is obvious that b the longitudinal opposite movement of t e members 21, 22 the slides 25 borne within the grooves or recesses. of the corresponding wings 23, 4 thereof will move transversely to the latter and the blades rotativcly borne in the sockets of the These members 21,,

hub, and engaging the slides 25 of the two sets withtheir: crank pins 27 will be turned will cause the axes of the pins 27 to swing in circles at different distances from the radial planes of contact between the several parts of the wings.

Any suitable means may be provided for shifting the members 21, 22 in opposite direction, either simultaneously or otherwise.

In the resent example I provide a lever 28 which 18 fulcrumed at 29 to a stationary part and which is connected throu h a toggle joint 30 to the upper ends 0 two yo cs 31 and 32. The opposite-ends of the yokes are fulcrumed at 31 32 to a stationary part 33 (Figs. 221ml 3).' The yoke 31 carries a collar 34 in which revolubly bear the spokes 35' of a disk 35 fixed tothe front end of the member or rod 22. The yoke 32 likewise carries a split collar 36 in which are revolubly borne the spokes 37 of a disk 37 fixed to the front end of the sleeve 21.. The propeller shaftvis recessed as at 10 for'the passage of the spokes 35' and 37' and hzollow at 10 to accommodate the disks as, 3

The manipulation of the reversing device is as 'fol1ows:=-"

When the lever 28 is depressed, the toggle links will be separated causing theyokes 34, 3'5fto swin in opposite directions, and thereby shift t e mem ers 22,21 longitudinally. As a i-esulttliereo'f, the wings 23, 24 will be displaced relative to one another in opposite directions, and the propeller blades 18 will be "swung around their longitudinal axes b virtue of the circular motion imp)arte'd to the pins 27 by the slides 25. urm this reversal of'the position of the 'pgo'pel 'er blades, theshoulders 18 18 will air Fsn'ugly against the cylindrical surface of the-hub sections 14, 150i the hub 12. a moving the lever '28 upwardly the toggle links 30 will be drawn together, as a consequence of which the yokes 34, 36 Wlll he returned into their initial position,

me ring the blades 18 totheir original posiof thepositio'n of the blades by the -means heretofore described. When the boat 'is moved'backward as soon as the power of the motor'is turned off, the water will help to swing-the, blades around the axis of the hubs toward'the forward driving position. ,While I havedescribed one embodiment ofm invention, I do not wish to restrict 'myse f the" details of the construction,

since various embodiments may be made therein, without departing from the princi- 1. In a screw propeller, the combination with a propeller shaft of independent members movable lon itudinally of and revolving with said sha t, a propeller hub secured to said propeller shaft, slides in said members and propeller blades borne in said hub and adapted to engage said slides, so that by the displacement of said members, said blades will be turned on their longitudinal axes to reverse the direction of propulsion.

2. In a screw propeller, the combination with a propeller shaft of independently and longitudinally movable members extending through and revolving with said propeller shaft, a propeller hub fixed to said propeller shaft, the ends of said members projecting into and guided in said hub, slides freely movable in said ends and propeller blades rotatively borne in said hub and engaging said slides so that by the displacement of said members, said blades will be turned around their longitudinal axes to reverse the direction of propulsion.

3. In a screw pro eller, the combination with a propeller sha of two independently and longitudinally movable members extending through and revolving with said shaft, a propeller hub fixed to said propeller shaft, the ends of said members projecting into and guided in said hub, slides freely movable 1n said ends, propeller blades revolubly borne in said hub and having eccentric projections adapted to engage the slides movably in two adjoining ends of said members, so that by the lon itudinal displacement of the latter, the sald blades will be turned on their longitudinal axes to reverse the direction of propulsion.

4. In a screw pr eller, the combination with a propeller sha t, of two independently and longitudinally movable me abers arranged concentric to and revolving with said shaft, a pro eller hub fixed on said oropeller shaft and ormed with a polygont central socket, the ends of saidmembers p; o'ecting into said socket and being formed eac with a'plurality of prismatic guides slidably bearing in said socket, the guides of one' member being adapted to interlock with those of the other, freely movable slides in said guides and propeller blades revolubly borne in said hub and each being adapted to engage the slides of adjoining guides of said two members, so that by the longitudinal displacement of the latter, the said blades will be turned on their longitudinal axes to reverse the direction of ropulsion.

5. In a screw propeller, the combination with a propeller shaft, of a hub fixed to said shaft, two sets of inter-engaging members guided in said hub and'movable in op osite directions relative to one another and ongitudinally of said propeller shaft, pro eller blades rotatively borne in said hub an each engaging a member of each set, and means for moving said uides to cause said blades to turn around't eir longitudinal axes and thereby reverse the direction of propulsion.

6. In a screw-propeller, the combination with a propeller shaft, of a hub fixed to the latter, two sets of guides in said hub movable in opposite direction relative to each other and longitudinally of said propeller shaft, slides freely movable in said guides transversely to the latter, blades rotatively mounted in said hub and each engaging the slides of two adjoining guides, so that by displacement of the latter the said blades will be turned on their longitudinal axes to reverse the direction ofpropulsion,

7. In a screw propeller, the combination with a propeller shaft, of a hub fixed to the latter, two sets of members guided in said hub and movable in opposite direction relative to each other and longitudinally of said propeller shaft, slides freely movable in said guides and blades revolubly mounted in said hub and each formed with two crank pins adapted to engage the slides of two adjoining guides, so that by dis lacement of the latter the said blades will turned on their longitudinal axes to reverse the direction of propulsion.

8. The combination with a propeller shaft, of reversible blades thereon and means for reversing the position of said blades, including inter-engaging members movable op ositely relative to each other and longitudinally of said propeller shaft, and adapted to revolve-with the latter.

9. The combination with a propeller shaft, of reversible blades thereon, and means for reversing said blades, including members movable relative to each other and longitudinally of said propeller shaft and adapted to revolve with the latter and a toggle mechanism for moving said members.

10. The combination with a propeller shaft, of reversible blades thereon, members engaging said blades and revolving with said shaft and movable oppositely relative to each other and longitudinally of said shaft, and means for moving said members including a toggle mechanism.

11. The combination with a propeller shaft, .of apropeller hub, blades reversibly borne in said hub, members guided in sald hub and movable oppositely relative to each other and longitudinally of said shaft, slides freely movable in said members and engaged by said blades and means for moving said members and including oppositely thereon, two oppositely movable members engaging said blades and means for moving said members including oppositely swinging yokes, collars carried by said yoxes, disks fixed on said shaft and to said members and revolving in said collars and a common means for swiniging said 'yokes.

13. In a reversib e propeller, a hollow propeller shaft, a sleeve and rod slidably interposed in each other and movably borne in said hollow shaft propeller blades,

each engaging both said sleeve and rod, two oppositel swlnging members connected one to said s eeve and the other to said rod and common means for simultaneously swinging said members in opposite directions.

14. In a. screw ropell'er, the combination with a pro eller shaft, of independent menibrs mova le longitudinally of and revolving with said shaft, a propeller huh secured to Z said propeller shaft, propeller blades some Said atam mumm engaging said members, so" that 1 by? the dlsplacement of the latter said blades will be turned on their longitudinal axes'to rererse the direction of propulsion.

15. In a screw propeller; the combination with a' propeller shaft, of interengaging members movable longitudinally of and re volving with said shaft, a propeller hub on said propeller shaft and propeller blades borne in said huh and. mo'vably; engaging; said members s'othat by-the displacement of the latter saidv blades will bqtnrne'd on their longitudinal axes to reverse Ythe direction of propulsion; In testimony whereof\ I aflix my signature in presence oftwowitnes'seseia c 'WALTHER; GLOOR. Witn I x D- JossmrT. MCMAHOR. 

